🌱 Munson Institute Changes Name + Narcan Kits Available In Oneida Co.

Good morning, friends! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Utica Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally. Today you'll find these three stories and more:

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy, a shower; milder. High: 50 Low: 45.
• Saturday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 61 Low: 22.

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Here are the top three stories in Utica today:

1. The Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute announced the museum and arts organization will now be known as Munson. Along with the name change, Munson will be undergoing a large redesign of its campus as part of the strategic five-year plan that was developed in 2019. The shortening of the name is the start of small steps clarifying who they are as an organization and what they want to represent. (My Little Falls)
2. The Utica Police Department is now using electric bikes to patrol the city, adding four to the fleet. The hope is that electric bikes will make it easier to police large crowds in tighter spaces while also being better for the environment. The price for the bike and maintenance is also much lower while remaining very effective. Officers have already begun training using the bikes and neighboring agencies have been invited to try the bikes themselves. (WKTV)
3. With the opioid epidemic appearing to get worse and worse across the country, the need for Narcan is at an all-time high, and kits are available in Oneida County. If you or a loved one is struggling with addictions, you are able to request a Narcan kit through various organizations in the county. The kits are provided through the county's Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, and to order a kit and watch training videos on how to administer Narcan, you can click here. (WKTV)

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Today and tomorrow in Utica:

Friday, March 31

• Public House Pop-Up - Irish Cultural Center Of The Mohawk Valley (4:00 PM)
• NRG - Baggs Square Brewing Company (7:00 PM)

Saturday, April 1

• Oneida County Public Market - Main Lobby Of Union Station (9:00 AM)
• Comedy Show - The Utica Elks Lodge (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A recent study by BeenVerified found New York was the No. 1 hotspot for catalytic converter thefts in 2022. Visit the link for more statistics on catalytic converter thefts in the Empire State and across the United States. (BeenVerified)
• Come out and support the Utica Comets on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Syracuse for the kids' game! The event will have pregame festivities, post-game autographs and pictures, and even post-game haircuts for the young ones. (Utica Comets via Facebook)
• Utica City FC's very own Ronaldinho shared a message on Facebook asking for fans to come out on Saturday for the game against Baltimore. This is the last home game of the regular season, and if the team wins, they will be hosting the first round of the playoffs. (Utica City FC via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you soon with your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.